| DF INTERVIEW: GEORGE PEREZ
George Perez started his comics career as an assistant to Deathlok creator Rich Buckler. In fact, George's first work was a two-page humor piece which appeared in Marvel's Astonishing Tales #25 which introduced Deathlock the Demolisher. George was given fill-in jobs on two low-selling series, Man-Wolf in Creatures on the Loose #33 and The Sons of the Tiger in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #6. The writers of these two series, David Kraft and Bill Mantlo, respectively, were impressed enough with the newcomer's work to have him become the regular penciller on both series. The rest is history. DF: What comics did you read as a kid?
GEORGE PEREZ: Pretty much anything I could afford to get. My first comic was an issue of DETECTIVE COMICS and I loved all the Superman titles. I was especially fond of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA and the Legion of Super-Heroes stories appearing in ADVENTURE COMICS. Later I became a real Marvel fan after picking up a copy of FANTASTIC FOUR and kept up with the entire line, including SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOES. I remember vividly that it was when I purchased an issue of SGT. FURY that the price jumped from 12? to 15?. That three-cent jump sure meant a lot to a young boy from the South Bronx, but I was hooked. I just had to eat fewer candy bars from then on. DF: What was your first professional assignment?
GEORGE PEREZ: My first printed work in a professional comic was a two page humor piece in the back of ASTONISHING TALES #25 which featured the debut of Deathlok the Demolisher. I was still an assistant for Rich Buckler, the creator of the character. DF: What title did you enjoy working on the most over your career?
GEORGE PEREZ: Now that's a very hard question to answer. I've enjoyed drawing so many books and for so many different reasons. I know that I will always have a soft spot for THE NEW TEEN TITANS since it was my first personal success (with Marv Wolfman, of course) and there were several stories like "Who Is Donna Troy" and "The Judas Contract" that really stood out. I loved working on CRISIS for the shear magnitude and challenge of the project. HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT was great fun and a nice change of pace for me. Of course, WONDER WOMAN gave me my first real success as a solo creator. My recent run on THE AVENGERS with Kurt Busiek was another personal triumph since it was pretty much my comeback vehicle and led to one of the great fanboy dreams JLA/AVENGERS. Lots of milestones for me, and I'm, sure I'm forgetting a few other projects that have special places in my heart and memory. DF: Looking back over the 30 years, to when you started, did you ever dream you'd make it this far and become such an icon in comics?
GEORGE PEREZ: Well, of course I dreamed of it, I just never really believed it. I was just grateful to play in the same sandbox as so many giants in the industry. I would feel so giddy when I would come into the offices and see the likes of Stan Lee, Gil Kane, Julie Schwartz, Frank Robbins, Bill Everett, Frank Giacoia, John Romita, Doug Moench, and so many others just talking comics with each other, or coming in with new artwork or scripts, or hent over drawing boards and typewriters. It was heaven then-- I could only dream and hope that I could someday be regarded as an equal to those giants. DF: How have comics changed over the 30 years you've been working in them?
Well, styles and production quality has certainly changed, but the most important aspects of comics-- and I mean good comics-- still remains the same. It's the all about telling a good story. DF: DC is returning to Crisis after many years, a series you are well associated with, what's your role in the new series? How did your role in the last Crisis series come about?
GEORGE PEREZ: For the new series I'm drawing all the covers for half the print run with Jim Lee drawing covers for the other half. In addition to that I will be drawing a five page sequence in Issue #2 that will reunite me with CRISIS inker Jerry Ordway.. It will be a recap of the history of the DC Universe, with some notable changes from the volume Marv and I worked on after the original CRISIS maxi-series. My involvement in that first CRISIS series was brought about by good ol' Marv Wolfman. I wasn't the first artist approached because Marv didn't think I was available, or interested, or something to that effect. When he found out otherwise, it was a done deal as far as he and DC were concerned. I will also be drawing an issue of one of the tie-in books, but I'm not sure if that's been announced yet DF: What's your next big project?
GEORGE PEREZ: Ohhh-- how I hate not being able to tell you. I'm afraid that you'll have to wait until DC makes an announcement. I can tell you one thing though-- I'm going to have a lot of fun working on it. DF: What comics do you read these days?
GEORGE PEREZ: Actually, none in particular. I may read a random title or two (one of my most recent was Troy Hickman's wonderful COMMON GROUNDS), but what few hours I'm away from my drawing board I like to spend with my wife Carol. Check out DF's complete collection of comics by George Perez here and be sure to look for Storyteller in December!
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